If you’ve followed me on Instagram for some time, you’ve seen #BMakesAVideo. My oldest, Brady, is almost seven (HOLD ME) and he LOVES making videos. I tell you what… watching his confidence makes me SO PROUD! He came up with every word of this… on the spot… and I about fell over with each word. I just can’t even handle it. He’s the sweetest, kindest, funniest kid and I was THRILLED he got to star in this video at Target!! Yes!! If you go to your local Target, you’ll see THIS GUY on the big screens in the book / electronics section! The video playing in Target doesn’t feature the blooper real below (time limits), so you HAVE to watch this version. I literally cried and laughed my whole way through the filming of this thing. Thank you for this awesome treasure Indie Atlantic Films! Go pick up your copy of A Simplified Life: Tactical Tools for Intentional Living at your Target today! And if you spot Brady, you HAVE to send me a note on Instagram!!

This is one of my most favorite topics to talk about when it comes to simplifying life. Creating routines that work is vital to ensuring your life, home, and family run smoothly. And, as a mama to a now nearly seven-year-old (hold me) and nearly three-year-old twins (hold me x 2), I really see how my children benefit from the cadence of morning routines, bedtime routines, and weekend routines. Before we dive in, remember this: Routines MUST BE FLEXIBLE. Sometimes you’re going to want to throw rhythm to the wind and do something completely different. That’s okay! Sometimes someone is going to get sick (ahem, OR GRUMPY) or the car isn’t going to start or the oven isn’t going to turn on. That’s okay too! Create loose routines wrapped in grace and the rest will fall into place.

Identify the pain points in your day. Is your morning always frazzled? Is getting dinner on the table always difficult? Wherever you feel your frustration rising and your anxiety bubbling up … those are the parts of your day that need to be addressed. For instance, for whatever reason, getting my kids out the door in the morning (the twins in particular) is like trying to move a mountain. I realized, though, that there were two pain points: 1) getting them dressed and 2) getting them from the kitchen to the car. Getting them dressed was hard because I’d bring them downstairs, put their clothes on them in the living room, put their shoes on them on the couch, and then we’d eat breakfast. I realized that ROOM was the problem—and that I was trying to dress two toddlers at the same time. They had so much space to run away from me, to play, and to be distracted.

Find a way to make that part of your day run smoother. The solution is often super simple! Now, I take their shoes and socks upstairs (we keep them in baskets by the front door). I’ve laid their clothes out the night before, so that part’s easy. I go to Tyler’s room first and get him fully dressed. Clothes. Shoes. Hair done. Everything. Then, we go and wake Caroline (girlfriend loves her beauty sleep). And I get her dressed in her room while Tyler plays in there. Clothes. Shoes. Hair done. Everything. Then we go downstairs and have breakfast. If I’m feeling super organized, I’ve set their breakfast out before I’ve gone upstairs, but that’s a rare occurance. ☺ Next, to get them to the car—I realized it was their backpacks that were causing a fuss. They wanted to put them on, buckle the front strap, and mess with them before walking twenty feet to the car. So now, before I go upstairs, I walk the backpacks to the car and put them in the front seat. They don’t even miss them! ☺ And our mornings run SO much smoother with these little tweaks!

Implement fun, simple traditions to give your week a cadence. Pizza on Fridays. Cinnamon rolls on Saturdays. Church and then football on Sundays. These are just a few things my family looks forward to. And, not to mention, they make my life a little easier (especially the pizza and cinnamon rolls part)! These are my absolute favorites (store bought and so delicious!)

When it comes to my own personal routines, one of the routines I really simplified this year was my own “getting ready” routine. In Chapter 2 of A Simplified Life—we talk about creating your own signature style and how much this helps the time it takes you to get dressed every morning. I edited my closet in a big way after doing this and ended up with more favorites and much less clutter distracting me from those pieces I already owned! So, I thought I’d share a few of my favorite wardrobe staples with you! Some are super affordable and some are investment pieces. But, quality over quantity is my new rule for my closet.

MY 10 FAVORITE WARDROBE STAPLES

Soft skinny jeans (my faves have been discontinued, but these are great too!)

My Apple Watch (version 2)– a gift a few Christmases ago that I wear everyday. I love using it to track my workouts and to be notified of calls or texts (that way I don’t have to have my phone on me at all times).

Rothys shoes. I loved Tieks for a while, but these are super soft (and you can throw them in the washing machine)!

Also, check out our new FREE Community Group! This has been on my heart for a LONG time. The process of simplifying your life is a BIG one. It’s so freeing and exciting and it’s HARD WORK. But it’s best done in community. With friends who can cheer you on, hold you accountable, and give you ideas. Friends you can ooh and ahh over before and after pictures with! Friends who can remind you it’s worth it to keep going when the clutter seems like too much (both physically and mentally). I’m THRILLED to announce we’ve just opened a FREE Simplified Life Community Group on Facebook (I know, not everyone is on FB – but its the easiest, *simplest* place to host such a thing – so get on FB even if just to join us). I’ll be there too and just can’t wait to get to know you all better. Hop in before we start our Simplicity Challenge January 1 and introduce yourself! Join here.

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GIVEAWAY

Win one of 40 (!!!) prize packs, including special-edition “Joy + Simplicity” pencils and an EL notepad! Giveaway winners will be contacted on Monday, January 2. Open to U.S. Residents only (sorry, International friends!).

Does anyone else feel like 2017 was jam-packed?! I know I did. Granted, it felt so much calmer than 2016, but it was still very full. This took a lot of planning and organization on my part, to make #allthethings happen without stressing everyone out (myself included). If you’re like me, though, you’re hoping to a) simplify your schedule for 2018, and b) really get a handle on that simplified schedule (that may still be very busy). Here are three quick tips for kicking off 2018 on the right foot with a schedule and plan that feel great to you.

Take inventory of your commitments. Get a piece of poster board (not a paper, trust me—poster boards are awesome for seeing the BIG picture) and a pen. Begin writing all the commitments you have that show up as regular appointments on your calendar: school, church, volunteering, children’s extracurricular activities, work, work, work (you get the picture).

Ruthlessly edit these. Decide what MUST stay. Highlight or underline those. Make decisions about what’s left. Do your children NEED to be involved in 3 extracurricular activities? Does your son even WANT to play four sports, or is there a favorite emerging? Is that volunteer commitment a “great thing for another season” and potentially a “not right now” for this season? Make yourself and your family a priority and say no where you can.

Create margin. Don’t get uncomfortable with the empty planner pages or the afternoons with no “places to be.” You may be tempted to fill them. Don’t fall victim to this. Let it be and let the good stuff of life seep into those moments. Maybe you’ll be freed up to make dinner for your family now. Maybe you’ll have time to exercise now. Maybe you’ll simply have time to get the laundry folded and put away now. Margin = room to breathe.

Once you have your edited schedule in front of you, consider the way your appointments are grouped together. For instance, I work five short days a week while my kiddos are at school (I try not to work outside of their school hours since they’re home with me at that point). I started grouping all my weekly calls, meetings, etc. on Tuesdays and Thursdays only—leaving Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays open for my “creative time.” Uninterrupted time for me to design and write. These days are so valuable since they’re not being chopped up. I bet, if you look at your schedule, you can find ways to group things together so that you’re left with a better overall organization of it all. Maybe instead of a jam-packed Monday afternoon with three kids going three different directions, you could spread those out across Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday? One commitment each day and room to breathe around each.

I’ve shared a few times on our Facebook Lives about how I manage my own busy schedule as a working mom. My team is all remote, so we keep everything in iCal. I put all my appointments there as well. On Sundays, I sit down with my Simplified Planner and transfer my appointments into my daily edition. From that point, I’m working out of my Simplified Planner. I love that time on Sundays because it’s a focused time for me to go over what’s coming up, see if I need to do anything to prepare, and connect with my husband on his schedule also.

MY 10 FAVORITE IPHONE & SIMPLIFIED PLANNER HACKS:

iPhone: Use the Notes app to keep track of lists and important information. Type three applicable emojis, then go down the next line, and type your list title. Then begin your list. Your notes app will be beautifully organized!

iPhone: Use the Notes app to track packages you’re monitoring (especially great during the holidays). I know there are apps out there to track this, but they all feel a little less than simple to me. I just copy + paste my tracking URLs for important packages into a note for easy access.

iPhone: Color code your apps (love this idea from The Home Edit) into individual folders. When I search for an app, I’m actually looking for its color, not its name or symbol, so this works great! I have 8 folders for my apps on my second page and keep only my most-used apps on my first page of my iPhone.

iPhone: Use a really simple wallpaper so that your apps stand out and your iPhone screen is visually calming. Search google for “free gradient iPhone wallpapers” and you’ll find a ton!

Simplified Planner: Write things (like grocery lists) that may need to be transferred from day to day on a Post-It and stick onto your planner page.

Simplified Planner: On the “to-do” section of your Daily Simplified Planner, write personal tasks from the top down and then write work tasks from the bottom up so that you have a visual delineation between the two lists.

Simplified Planner: Color code your planner using Pilot pens! We LOVE the Pilot V5 pens and all the fun color options they have! You could color code for each person in your family or color code work/personal as well.

Simplified Planner: Store stamped stationery in the front pocket of your planner so its easily accessible for thank you notes.

Check out Part 1 (Simplifying your Home) of our Simplifying 2018 series and check back tomorrow for Part 3 (Simplifying your Routines) and lots of fun giveaways, discounts, tips and more as we head into the new year. And, if you haven’t picked up your Simplified Planner yet, now’s the time! Orders over $100 get FREE domestic shipping until January 2! Get yours before they’re gone! AND my new book, A Simplified Life, is available here! Looking for more inspiration this week? I had a blast on Jen Hatmaker’s podcast this week as well as Jesus Calling!

Also, check out our new FREE Community Group! This has been on my heart for a LONG time. The process of simplifying your life is a BIG one. It’s so freeing and exciting and it’s HARD WORK. But it’s best done in community. With friends who can cheer you on, hold you accountable, and give you ideas. Friends you can ooh and ahh over before and after pictures with! Friends who can remind you it’s worth it to keep going when the clutter seems like too much (both physically and mentally). I’m THRILLED to announce we’ve just opened a FREE Simplified Life Community Group on Facebook (I know, not everyone is on FB – but its the easiest, *simplest* place to host such a thing – so get on FB even if just to join us). I’ll be there too and just can’t wait to get to know you all better. Hop in before we start our Simplicity Challenge January 1 and introduce yourself! Join here.

—

GIVEAWAY

Win one of 40 (!!!) prize packs, including special-edition “Joy + Simplicity” pencils and an EL notepad! Giveaway winners will be contacted on Monday, January 2. Open to U.S. Residents only.

I’ve spent the last year of my life immersed in this topic. Decluttering, simplifying, cleaning out the old, the extra, the necessary and making way for the good, the best, the favorite … giving it room to shine and sing in your life. I’ve written about this time and time again—even wrote a book on the topic. But I’ve also lived it. If you’re in the process of simplifying your life right now, know that I’ve lived that journey too. It’s hard. It’s life changing. Almost to the point that it’s hard to put into words what committing yourself to a simpler life will do. Let’s get a few things straight before we dive in this week.

Simple does not equal small. Simple does not equal mundane. Simple does not equal boring. Simple does not equal SETTLING.

Simple is rich and beautiful. Simple is easy. Simple is refreshing.

A simplified life has an ease about it, even when life throws curveballs. A simplified life is one lived with intention, purpose, and love. A simplified life is rooted in routine, rhythm, and tradition. A simplified life has a cadence about it that is both soothing and foundational. A simplified life provides a sturdy foundation upon which ambition, creativity, and adventure are built.

YES. Just yes.

I want that for myself and I want that for my children. Give me the calmness and comfort of a home and family built on things that are steadfast and true—on faith, on love, and on character. Why am I after a simplified life? Because the rest of this world feels really complicated. And sometimes unexplainable. And if I can control (to some extent) what happens inside the four walls of my home, then step aside. I have work to do, and I am all in. I want every room in my home, every space in my house, every cabinet, every closet, every bed and bathroom to feel lived in, welcoming, and lovely. I don’t mean lovely in the sense of “decorate with allthethings,” but lovely in the sense of colors and patterns that make me smile, photographs and artwork that evoke a memory or a feeling, and the clarity and inspiration that comes with all of that.

YES. Just yes.

So I don’t organize to make our home perfect or photo-worthy. Rather, I organize, simplify, declutter, and have committed myself to this lifestyle because it matters. It matters in eternal, important, enormous, everlasting ways. Thank you for joining me on this journey this year. A Simplified Life hit the Amazon Charts (#3 of All Books), the USA Today Bestsellers List, and the Washington Post Bestsellers List. That blew my mind, of course. But what touched my heart so much were all the notes, messages, texts, and emails I received from so many of you who worked through that book and literally changed your lives. You dug in and did the hard work and are reaping rewards left and right. Thank you for sharing those stories with me.

As we embark on this four-day adventure in simplifying our lives, I want you to know two things: 1) You are in charge. You get to decide what you say yes to and what you say no to. 2) Laugh. As 2018 is just days away, I have a feeling there will be times we just need to LAUGH. There will be good times and hard times ahead. Celebrate the good times with ice cream sundaes and dance parties. And when the hard times come, give yourself permission to watch Anchorman. Or eat a cheeseburger (with A LOT OF FRIES). Or take a nap. Like, a long nap if you want. My dad always says we can’t take life too seriously, and I totally agree. Let’s have some fun next year, okay?

Nervous about decluttering your home? Start with this: Go get some trash bags. You probably have plenty. Start with a general sweep of your home. Pick up all the trash. Napkins. Tags. Old papers. Envelopes. Junk mail. Wrappers. TRASH. Pick it up. Throw it out. Next, make a general sweep of your home and grab things to give away. BE. RUTHLESS. These two exercises will give you a boost of confidence and a taste of the fresh start to come when you really dig into your home.

YOU deserve a home that is simple, clean, organized, and lovely. It doesn’t matter if you’re in a tiny home or a big home, an apartment or a farmhouse, have six cats and twelve children or live solo. YOUR home should be a place of rest and respite—an escape from the outside world. Let’s do this.

MY 10 FAVORITE PIECES OF DECOR IN OUR HOME

in no particular order

My Lindsay Letters canvas. I have this family rules one, this Christmas one, and this one (that is technically a Christmas one but I’m leaving it up all year). It’s big. Makes a statement and is so gorgeous and unique feeling.

Ginger jars. I love how traditional and fresh these are. I was eyeing these expensive ones from Williams Sonoma but wasn’t about to spend that much. So, I found some at Home Goods from $9.99 to $24.99. Jackpot.

Navy gingham pillows from Caitlin Wilson. They’re so cute and they hold up well with little messy kiddos.

Boxwoods and topiaries. I just love them. I get most of these from Home Goods, but some of them are actually real plants. I just spray them with water every few months and they’re good.

Wreaths from Mud Pie. I don’t have a lot of front porch decor, but I swap these out every holiday and they’re so cute and festive.

Pineapples. Not only are they our brand’s icon, they’re the symbol for southern hospitality. That’s something I want our home to exude. Here are a few recent favorites: 1 and 2.

Brady’s bronzed baby shoes. Be still my heart. So meaningful and pretty. I got them done here, I believe.

Kids artwork cork boards framed by Framebridge. I took three 24 x 36 cork boards (one for each child) and covered them in linen (adhered with spray glue). Then I sent them to Framebridge and had them framed with their Mandalay frames (without glass). They’re some of my favorite pieces in our home. We put the kiddos’ artwork, certificates, and sometimes photos up on them to display.

Check back tomorrow for Part 2 of our Simplifying 2018 series and lots of fun giveaways, discounts, tips and more as we head into the new year. And, if you haven’t picked up your Simplified Planner yet, now’s the time! Orders over $100 get FREE domestic shipping until January 2! Get yours before they’re gone! AND my new book, A Simplified Life, is available here! Looking for more inspiration this week? I had a blast on Jen Hatmaker’s podcast this week as well as Jesus Calling!

Also, check out our new FREE Community Group! This has been on my heart for a LONG time. The process of simplifying your life is a BIG one. It’s so freeing and exciting and it’s HARD WORK. But it’s best done in community. With friends who can cheer you on, hold you accountable, and give you ideas. Friends you can ooh and ahh over before and after pictures with! Friends who can remind you it’s worth it to keep going when the clutter seems like too much (both physically and mentally). I’m THRILLED to announce we’ve just opened a FREE Simplified Life Community Group on Facebook (I know, not everyone is on FB – but its the easiest, *simplest* place to host such a thing – so get on FB even if just to join us). I’ll be there too and just can’t wait to get to know you all better. Hop in before we start our Simplicity Challenge January 1 and introduce yourself! Join here.